Have your say & ask the experts!

Evolution of my system

29 replies [Last post]
WinterRacer
WinterRacer's picture
Offline
Joined: 14 Jan 2009
Posts: 390

It's been a while forming and some major changes in the last couple of years, but here's the evolution of my system

I'd spent some years to get to a system I was happy with based on a Cyrus XT-SE transport, Cyrus DAC-X, Roksan Caspian pre and mono-bloc amps and Monitor Audio PL100 speakers.  However, due to finding myself in temporary accommodation I needed a system with a low fewer boxes.  Entry AVI ADM9.1 (as a temporary measure).

 

Once back to somewhere I could set up my system again, as a priority I set up a 'bake-off' to decide what would stay and what would go.  I did have it all set up on a rack, but this is the only photo I've got, taken as I was setting it up.

 

comparison

 

I decided to keep the AVIs and let the rest of the kit go, so here are some picks of my current setups:

Lounge (Squeezebox Touch, AVI ADM9.1 + AVI Sub)

Lounge

2nd System - (Squeezebox Duet, Pioneer DVD player, Yamaha DSP-E800, Audiolab 8000px power amp, AVI Neutron 5s)

2nd System

 

Study (genelec 6010A, Genelec 5040A subwoofer - with obligatory WHF shot)

Study

 

__________________

My System

BenLaw
BenLaw's picture
Offline
Joined: 21 Nov 2010
Posts: 4104
RE: Evolution of my system

All 3 very nice!  Smile How do you find the genelecs?

__________________

HiFi   /   A/V   /   Bedroom

WinterRacer
WinterRacer's picture
Offline
Joined: 14 Jan 2009
Posts: 390
RE: Evolution of my system

Thanks, I'm happy with them, although there is another change on the way...

The Genelecs are good, but perhaps not worth the money.  If I was doing it again I think I'd just go for the next size up in the Genelec range and not bother with the sub.

Having said that, they sound great, good stereo image, are very unobtrusive and go plenty loud enough for near field use.  It would have been good to see them up against he B&W MM1 and Focus desktop speakers in the recent WHF test.

 

 

 

 

__________________

My System

BenLaw
BenLaw's picture
Offline
Joined: 21 Nov 2010
Posts: 4104
RE: Evolution of my system

Having heard the MM1s I'd be surprised if your genelecs didn't outgun them. You have a really nice office setup, bet you don't get much work done!

__________________

HiFi   /   A/V   /   Bedroom

WinterRacer
WinterRacer's picture
Offline
Joined: 14 Jan 2009
Posts: 390
RE: Evolution of my system

Yep, they definitely make working at home more fun Cool

 

The come with "isopod" feed that allow you to tilt them back when placed below ear height and they also have some DIP swiches on the back to adjust for placement on desks and in corners, etc.  I originally had them on the desk, but found lifting them up to ear height and setting them to 'flat' made them sound much better - hence the less than professional looking homemade stands!

__________________

My System

BenLaw
BenLaw's picture
Offline
Joined: 21 Nov 2010
Posts: 4104
RE: Evolution of my system

I actually quite liked the stands - definitely good now you say they're homemade! I hear a lot of good things about genelec (one of the few to be mentioned in the same breath as ATC  Wink ) although unfortunately office actives are low on my hi fi 'to do' list at the moment. 

__________________

HiFi   /   A/V   /   Bedroom

vinod_david
vinod_david's picture
Offline
Joined: 18 Nov 2007
Posts: 810
RE: Evolution of my system

Wow, nice setup. PC setup looks cool.good job

__________________

Setup I: Denon DM38DAB → Q Acoustic 2020i

Setup II: PC → FLAC → J.River MC16 [asio4all] → Furutech Formula 2 → Musical Fidelity V-DAC II → Chord Crimson Plus [VEE] → PrimAcoustic Recoil Stabilizer RX5 → Focal CMS40 [Active]

PC Config: Intel Core i5 2310 | Windows 7 64 bit | Gigabyte Mobo | Corsair Vengeance 4 GB x 2 | SeaSonic S12II 430W | CM Elite 311+ | Seagate 1 TB + FreeAgent GoFlex Drive 500 GB

Old Setup: Cambridge Audio 640C V2 → Cambridge Audio 640A V2 → Squeezebox Classic → Merlin Mozart → Van Damme Studio Blue → Monitor Audio RS6

Messiah
Messiah's picture
Offline
Joined: 13 Jan 2008
Posts: 2747
RE: Evolution of my system

Very nice!

The ADMs are certainly more living room friendly than traditional kit. A small part of me though misses the look of the Cyrus kit and rack I had but I would not swap the ADMs for anything. Well maybe some Meridian DSP8000s. Smile

__________________

System Photos | Netbook (iTunes) | Onkyo ND-S1 | AVI ADM 9.1 | Yamaha Sub | Epoz Aktimate Mini

 

moon
moon's picture
Offline
Joined: 10 Nov 2011
Posts: 871
RE: Evolution of my system

I love the office setup.....

 

__________________

 

WinterRacer
WinterRacer's picture
Offline
Joined: 14 Jan 2009
Posts: 390
RE: Evolution of my system

Thanks all, I really like the look of the PL100 speakers:

PL100 speakers

The Cyrus and Roksan kit looked good too, but I don't miss the stacks of boxes and since buying my first Squeezebox I never played CDs.

XT-SE

 

__________________

My System

WinterRacer
WinterRacer's picture
Offline
Joined: 14 Jan 2009
Posts: 390
RE: Evolution of my system

vinod_david wrote:

Wow, nice setup. PC setup looks cool.good job

 

Thanks, those Focals look really nice too!

__________________

My System

David@FrankHarvey
David@FrankHarvey's picture
Offline
Joined: 27 Jun 2008
Posts: 9823
Shock horror!

Messiah wrote:
...but I would not swap the ADMs for anything. Well maybe some Meridian DSP8000s. Smile

Surely the AVI's sound better...  Wink

__________________

David @Frank Harvey Hi-Fi, Coventry

Mitsubishi HC7000 / Oppo BDP103 / Audiolab 8200AP / Rotel RMB1575 / kick ass speaker system

WinterRacer
WinterRacer's picture
Offline
Joined: 14 Jan 2009
Posts: 390
RE: Shock horror!

FrankHarveyHiFi wrote:

Messiah wrote:
...but I would not swap the ADMs for anything. Well maybe some Meridian DSP8000s. Smile

Surely the AVI's sound better...  Wink

 

Are DSP8000s Meridian's lower powered versions of AVI ADM9s but sat on a pair of subs?    Smile

 

Messiah, are you tempted by the forthcoming AVI ADM40s?  

AVI ADM40

 

__________________

My System

Messiah
Messiah's picture
Offline
Joined: 13 Jan 2008
Posts: 2747
RE: Shock horror!

FrankHarveyHiFi wrote:

Messiah wrote:
...but I would not swap the ADMs for anything. Well maybe some Meridian DSP8000s. Smile

Surely the AVI's sound better...  Wink

Ha ha Laughing

I have not heard anything better than Meridian DSP8000s. Just need a lotto win now!

 

__________________

System Photos | Netbook (iTunes) | Onkyo ND-S1 | AVI ADM 9.1 | Yamaha Sub | Epoz Aktimate Mini

 

Messiah
Messiah's picture
Offline
Joined: 13 Jan 2008
Posts: 2747
RE: Shock horror!

WinterRacer wrote:

Messiah, are you tempted by the forthcoming AVI ADM40s?  

AVI ADM40

 

To be honest. No.

Perhaps if I had the money spare I might consider them but the truth of it is the ADMs 9.1s provide the kind of sound I had spent years (and plenty of money) trying to attain.

Maybe if/when I get back into surround again then the 40's could be at the front and the 9.1s moved to the rear. Hmmmm

__________________

System Photos | Netbook (iTunes) | Onkyo ND-S1 | AVI ADM 9.1 | Yamaha Sub | Epoz Aktimate Mini

 

WinterRacer
WinterRacer's picture
Offline
Joined: 14 Jan 2009
Posts: 390
RE: Shock horror!

I know what you mean, it's hard to justify upgrading ADMs when they've not got any obvious faults. However, I think the cherry would look better in the lounge than the black ADMs on metal stands. Is that enough of a reason? Smile

 

__________________

My System